David Connolly

Connolly enjoyed a sensational start to his career, not least for the Republic.

He came to the fore in the qualification campaign for the 1998 World Cup when, whilst still aged 19, he scored an 11-minute first half hat-trick against Liechtenstein.

He was similarly prolific at club level with two hat-tricks in his first seven games for Watford.

Connolly's early scoring exploits soon led to a move to leading Dutch outfit Feyenoord.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to fulfil his potential in Holland, subsequently losing his place in Ireland's front line.

The diminutive, pacy striker returned to England for the 1998-99 season with an extended loan spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers, making the permanent return to the Football League when he joined Wimbledon in the 2001 close season.

Connolly joined West Ham United in July 2003 for £285,000 in a three-year deal.

He joined Leicester City in July 2004 with a three-year contract.

Connolly joined Wigan Athletic in August 2005 with a three-year contract.

He joined Sunderland in August 2006 with a three-year contract.

Connolly joined Southampton in October 2009 with a contract to June 2010 that was extended to June 2011 in July 2010 and to June 2012 in May 2011.

He joined close rivals Portsmouth in December 2012 with a monthly contract that was extended to June 2015 in May 2013 before it was cancelled in January 2015.

Club history

Team

Joined

Left

Loan / Trialist

Watford

15 Nov 1994

01 Aug 1997

Feyenoord

01 Aug 1997

07 Jul 2001

Wolverhampton Wanderers

21 Aug 1998

13 May 1999

L

Wimbledon

07 Jul 2001

31 Jul 2003

West Ham United

31 Jul 2003

20 Jul 2004

Leicester City

20 Jul 2004

31 Aug 2005

Wigan Athletic

31 Aug 2005

31 Aug 2006

Sunderland

31 Aug 2006

30 Jun 2009

Southampton

08 Oct 2009

30 Jun 2012

Portsmouth

31 Dec 2012

15 Jan 2015

Oxford United

31 Jan 2014

31 May 2014

L

AFC Wimbledon

15 Jan 2015

08 Mar 2015

Club stats

Season

Team

Competition

Apps

Subs

Goals

Y

R

1995-96

Watford

FA Cup

1

1997-98

Feyenoord

UEFA Champions League

1

1998-99

Wolverhampton Wanderers

FA Cup

1

1998-99

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Cup

2

2000-01

Feyenoord

Dutch KPN Telecompetitie

9

6

5

1

2001-02

Wimbledon

FA Cup

2

2001-02

Wimbledon

League Cup

1

2001-02

Wimbledon

League Division 1

35

18

3

2

2002-03

Wimbledon

FA Cup

2

2002-03

Wimbledon

League Division 1

28

24

1

2003-04

West Ham United

FA Cup

4

2

1

2003-04

West Ham United

League Cup

2

2

2003-04

West Ham United

League Division 1

37

2

10

6

1

2003-04

West Ham United

League Division 1 Play-Offs

3

2004-05

Leicester City

FA Cup

3

2

1

2004-05

Leicester City

League Championship

43

1

13

5

1

2005-06

Leicester City

League Championship

5

4

2005-06

Wigan Athletic

FA Cup

1

1

2005-06

Wigan Athletic

League Cup

2

1

1

2005-06

Wigan Athletic

Premier League

4

13

1

2006-07

Sunderland

FA Cup

1

2006-07

Sunderland

League Championship

30

6

13

1

2006-07

Wigan Athletic

Premier League

2

2007-08

Sunderland

FA Cup

1

2007-08

Sunderland

League Cup

1

1

2007-08

Sunderland

Premier League

1

2

2009-10

Southampton

FA Cup

1

2

2009-10

Southampton

Johnstones Paint Trophy

1

1

2009-10

Southampton

League One

9

11

5

1

2010-11

Southampton

FA Cup

1

1

2010-11

Southampton

Johnstones Paint Trophy

1

2010-11

Southampton

League Cup

1

2010-11

Southampton

League One

8

7

3

2011-12

Southampton

League Championship

17

9

6

1

2012-13

Portsmouth

League One

15

2

7

2013-14

Oxford United

League Two

8

8

4

2013-14

Portsmouth

FA Cup

1

1

2013-14

Portsmouth

Johnstones Paint Trophy

1

2013-14

Portsmouth

League Two

11

7

4

1

1

2014-15

AFC Wimbledon

League Two

2

6

1

Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.